Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Zen

  • 20092009
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Zen (2009)
  • Biography
  • Drama
'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist... Read all'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist teacher. One bright morning, enlightened, Zenji returns to Japan as a devoted evangelist ... Read all'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist teacher. One bright morning, enlightened, Zenji returns to Japan as a devoted evangelist of the 'new' Buddhism. However, this new form of Buddhism is not accepted in all communiti... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Banmei Takahashi
  • Writers
    • Banmei Takahashi(screenplay)
    • Tetsuo Ôtani(novel "Eihei no kaze: Dôgen no shôgai")
  • Stars
    • Kankurô Nakamura
    • Yuki Uchida
    • Ryushin Tei
Top credits
  • Director
    • Banmei Takahashi
  • Writers
    • Banmei Takahashi(screenplay)
    • Tetsuo Ôtani(novel "Eihei no kaze: Dôgen no shôgai")
  • Stars
    • Kankurô Nakamura
    • Yuki Uchida
    • Ryushin Tei
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)
    Zen (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kankurô Nakamura
    Kankurô Nakamura
    • Dôgenas Dôgen
    Yuki Uchida
    Yuki Uchida
    • Orinas Orin
    Ryushin Tei
    Ryushin Tei
    • Jakuenas Jakuen…
    Kengo Kôra
    • Shunryôas Shunryô
    Ken'ichirô Yasui
    • Gikaias Gikai
    Jun Murakami
    Jun Murakami
    • Ejôas Ejô
    Masanobu Katsumura
    • Yoshishige Hatanoas Yoshishige Hatano
    Tatsuya Fujiwara
    Tatsuya Fujiwara
    • Tokiyori Hôjôas Tokiyori Hôjô
    Tianyong Zheng
    • Nyôjôas Nyôjô
    Masahiko Nishimura
    Masahiko Nishimura
    • Setsu-ôas Setsu-ô
    Shun Sugata
    Shun Sugata
    • Kôninas Kônin
    Shô Aikawa
    Shô Aikawa
    • Matsuzôas Matsuzô
    Takashi Sasano
    • Rôsôas Rôsô
    Keiko Takahashi
    • Ishias Ishi
    Kiyomi Doi
    Yumi Endô
    Satoshi Izumi
    Shô Oyamada
    Shô Oyamada
    • Director
      • Banmei Takahashi
    • Writers
      • Banmei Takahashi(screenplay)
      • Tetsuo Ôtani(novel "Eihei no kaze: Dôgen no shôgai")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Samsara
    7.7
    Samsara
    Siddhartha
    6.6
    Siddhartha
    Milarepa
    6.9
    Milarepa
    Rhapsody in August
    7.2
    Rhapsody in August
    We Couldn't Become Adults
    6.5
    We Couldn't Become Adults
    Home
    8.5
    Home
    Amongst White Clouds
    7.8
    Amongst White Clouds
    Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?
    7.4
    Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?
    Eureka
    7.8
    Eureka
    Valley of Flowers
    6.9
    Valley of Flowers
    Sketches of Kaitan City
    7.0
    Sketches of Kaitan City
    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
    8.0
    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

    Storyline

    Edit
    'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist teacher. One bright morning, enlightened, Zenji returns to Japan as a devoted evangelist of the 'new' Buddhism. However, this new form of Buddhism is not accepted in all communities. —Rene Guillot
    • buddhism
    • china
    • 13th century
    • buddhist
    • zen
    • 20 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The staff with jingling rings on the top that the monks carry is called a shakujo in Japanese. It was used as a walking stick, a weapon, an alarm to scare away animals and as a signal to people that a monk was nearby.

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Fail of an attempt to describe the life of the great monk Dogen
    The story is about the life and times of the great (perhaps the greatest) zen monk in Japanese history: Dogen.

    Dogen's origin is not well known, but what he's become in his later life is part of the Japanese history and culture. The movie is an attempt to portray his life. I'm not sure how much of this story is based on fact. Dogen is the founder of Japanese Soto zen sect which he brought back from China. None of these background information are elaborated in this movie which I think makes this movie miss its point.

    It's based on a biographical novel of Dogen by Tetsuo Ootani who himself is a Soto zen monk. I don't know anything about the novel, but since it's supposed to be the life story of Dogen, I believe this movie should reflect that also. However, perhaps the producers have bit off more than they can chew because I find this movie very incomplete whether looking from Buddhistic point of view, or biographic point of view.

    How did Dogen arrive at his view of zen Buddhism should at least be highlighted, but none of that is shown in this movie. I believe that the producers didn't know anything about the subject that they were putting on the big screen. It shows on the choppy way the story advances.

    The producers, and also the actors were not the caliber that could describe a story of this magnitude.

    Good attempt but fail of a production from the aforementioned reasons.
    helpful•14
    8
    • ebiros2
    • Sep 12, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 10, 2009 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Дзен
    • Production companies
      • Kadokawa Pictures
      • Twins Japan
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,877,113
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Zen (2009)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Zen (2009)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.